Right in the centre - PC Party of Manitoba begins the rebuild
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- Published on Friday, January 19, 2024
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
Last fall I wrote a column on the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba and their less than enviable record for choosing how to elect a leader. When the party replaced Gary Filmon around 2000, there was a coronation of Stu Murray. In 2006, the election of Hugh McFadyen was pretty much a coronation. Then the party selected Brian Pallister in an acclaimed race. The party elite did their best to make the selection of Heather Stefanson a couple of years ago a coronation.
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Right in the centre - Don't be so negative, ok?
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- Published on Friday, January 12, 2024
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
The following column is a re-run from the Jan. 13, 2023 Neepawa Banner & Press.
In just about every TV show, online story or in actual conversations, I hear way too much negativity.
Right in the Centre - Clear thinking in short supply
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- Published on Friday, January 5, 2024
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
The first column in the New Year is a good time to ask some questions.
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Right in the centre - Truth can be elusive
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- Published on Friday, December 22, 2023
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
I am currently reading a book by John Ibbitson titled The Dual, Diefenbaker, Pearson and the making of modern Canada. The book is a great gift from an old friend, Ray Bollman of Moline, Manitoba. We roomed together at the University of Manitoba in the 1960s. We both participated in the U of M debating club and he claims he never won a debate with me. Being the gentleman that I am, I will refrain from that debate.. Ray is a good friend who we value highly.
Right in the centre - Memories and going forward
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- Published on Friday, December 15, 2023
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
The older I get, obviously the more memories I gather unto my aging brain. The first Christmases that comes to mind seem to blend together. Always a tree cut out in the bush and placed in the house bay window. I remember the red ball placed near the top of the tree, the ball bought by my uncle for my brothers in early WWll to cheer them up as Dad was not home that Christmas. No electric lights either on the tree or in the house, as we didn’t get electricity until 1954 when I was six years old. I remember presents under the tree in plain green or red tissue. Usually there was a toy or two. One Christmas, my older brother played Santa Claus at the local Christmas concert and I didn’t even catch on. I was always naive and sometimes still am. When I was about eight or nine, my brother bought me a matchbox bulldozer and I still have it over 65 years later. Its poor little rubber tracks are pretty much evaporated away.